Using the open source NativeScript framework, developers can build native iOS, Android and Windows Universal apps with JavaScript

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Progress today announced the beta availability of NativeScript™, an open source framework enabling developers to use JavaScript to build native mobile apps running on all major mobile platforms, including Apple iOS, Google Android and, in the future, Windows Universal. The NativeScript framework is designed to be very familiar to developers comfortable with web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript, minimizing the learning curve for web developers interested in building native mobile apps. It also uses an innovative method to expose 100 percent of underlying native device APIs to NativeScript developers, including immediate support for new APIs in new versions of iOS and Android.

“NativeScript changes everything we know about native app development by providing a simple, easy and modern way to build cross-platform native mobile applications with JavaScript to deliver the best possible user experience provided by the native OS.”

Telerik, a Progress company, and Progress see the NativeScript framework complementing mobile web and hybrid development approaches, like Apache Cordova and PhoneGap, for cross-platform app development, affording developers the luxury to continue to use JavaScript while gaining direct access to native APIs and UI built using high-performance, native platform UI components. With the NativeScript framework, developers can truly use a single skill set to build web, hybrid and native applications.

“Two years ago, we recognized a need with the JavaScript community and Telerik began working with developers to make the native app development experience better, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results,” said Aaron Mahimainathan, SVP DevTools and Telerik Platform, Progress. “NativeScript changes everything we know about native app development by providing a simple, easy and modern way to build cross-platform native mobile applications with JavaScript to deliver the best possible user experience provided by the native OS.”

Developed by Telerik, a Progress company, and available under the Apache v2 open source license at NativeScript.org, the NativeScript framework enables developers to write JavaScript that can directly access native APIs. This means NativeScript apps have native performance and full API access, identical to apps created with native platform languages. With the NativeScript framework, developers can write just one app that works on every platform. As a result, developers save considerable development effort and don’t need to learn Objective C, Java and C# or have past experience with any native platform to use it. They can leverage their existing JavaScript skills to develop mobile apps. NativeScript support is also built in to Telerik AppBuilder, part of the Telerik end-to-end mobile application development platform, offering developers premium, no-setup tooling for building NativeScript apps.

“I believe the NativeScript framework is going to revolutionize the mobile application marketplace,” said Ian Price, Head of Development, Sharesoft. “Building mobile apps from a single code base enables developers to re-use features and functionality across platforms, which simplifies mobile app development and significantly increases productivity. I’m also impressed by how easily I’ve been able to develop native, cross-platform applications using familiar web development tools and skills.”

A preview of the NativeScript framework was released to a select group of early adopters in June 2014. Since then, it has evolved into a robust framework that is ready for public beta. To join the program, please visit www.NativeScript.org. To learn more, view our recent webinar here http://youtu.be/8hr4E9eodS4?t=5m1s

Progress (NASDAQ: PRGS) is a global software company that simplifies the development, deployment and management of business applications on-premise or in the cloud, on any platform or device, to any data source, with enhanced performance, minimal IT complexity and low total cost of ownership. Progress can be reached at www.progress.com or 1-781-280-4000.

Progress, NativeScript, and Telerik are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Progress, Telerik, and certain product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software
Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and/or other countries. See Trademarks for appropriate markings.